Governor Hochul Announces $30 Million in Funding Awards for Climate Resilience Projects Across New York State

Strategic Insights -

To address the growing risks of inland and coastal flooding driven by climate change, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $30 million in funding awards from the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act) for 19 projects that enhance community resilience to extreme weather events and flooding across New York State. The projects will strengthen local infrastructure, restore natural protections, and make neighborhoods more resilient in the face of climate change.

Key Takeaways:

  • The funding awards total $30 million from the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act) for 19 projects that enhance community resilience to extreme weather events and flooding across New York State.
  • The projects are categorized into four areas: restoration and flood risk reduction, open space land conservation and recreation, climate change mitigation, and water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure.
  • The New York Department of State (DOS) administers two programs through the Bond Act: the Coastal Rehabilitation and Resiliency Projects Program and the Inland Flooding and Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.
  • The Coastal Rehabilitation and Resiliency Projects Program supports the implementation of projects that increase resilience with an emphasis on natural processes that provide environmental, economic, and social benefits.
  • Project awards for the Coastal Rehabilitation and Resiliency Projects Program include Wallkill River Streambank Stabilization at Celery Avenue, Genesee River Flood Resiliency, and Nyack Waterfront Restoration and Resiliency Improvements.
  • Project awards for the Inland Flooding and Local Waterfront Revitalization Program include Turtle Cove Tidal Wetland Resiliency and Restoration, Mill Street Dam Removal and Chittenango Creek Restoration, and Sucker Brook Flood Resiliency Implementation.
  • Governor Hochul's climate leadership is delivering strategic and proactive solutions for helping communities keep their residents and businesses safe from the most damaging effects of extreme weather events.
  • The infrastructure investments announced today will benefit generations of New Yorkers by strengthening resiliency systems, allowing these regions to adapt to and recover more readily and cost-effectively from the impacts of future flooding.
  • State Senator Pete Harckham said, "Climate change is already costing our communities more than $2 billion a year, and those costs will only grow if we fail to strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure."
  • Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, "I thank Governor Hochul for her foresight and commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe while advancing our climate goals."
  • New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Statistics:

  • $30 million in funding awards from the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act) for 19 projects.
  • 19 projects that enhance community resilience to extreme weather events and flooding across New York State.
  • 4 categories of projects: restoration and flood risk reduction, open space land conservation and recreation, climate change mitigation, and water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure.
  • $450,000 for Wallkill River Streambank Stabilization at Celery Avenue.
  • $2,250,000 for Genesee River Flood Resiliency.
  • $590,580 for Nyack Waterfront Restoration and Resiliency Improvements.
  • $2,047,057 for Big Rock Wetland Restoration Project.
  • $1,100,000 for Duck Pond Dam Removal and Kleine Kill Restoration.
  • $1,278,256 for West Canada Creek Floodplain Restoration and Strategic Relocation Project.
  • $3,190,979 for Turtle Cove Tidal Wetland Resiliency and Restoration.
  • $1,359,900 for Mill Street Dam Removal and Chittenango Creek Restoration.
  • $2,650,600 for Sucker Brook Flood Resiliency Implementation.
  • $1,181,812 for MacDonough Park Flood Resiliency Improvements.
  • $304,126 for Mill Creek Streambank Stabilization.
  • $535,401 for Schroon River Access Site Resiliency Improvements.
  • $982,733 for Kingston Point Beach Sea-Level Rise Mitigation Project.

Sources:

  • US State of New York (in recognition of Climate Week NYC)
  • New York State Department of State (DOS)
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
  • State Senator Pete Harckham
  • Assemblymember Deborah Glick